

Borregaard is a
Norwegian company, established in 1889 in the southeastern town of
Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg ( or ), historically Borg, is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Østfold Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.
Sarpsbor ...
in
Østfold
Østfold () is a county in Eastern Norway, which from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023 was part of Viken. Østfold borders Akershus and southwestern Sweden (Västra Götaland County and Värmland), while Buskerud and Vestfold are on the other ...
county. Its main products were traditionally
pulp and paper
The pulp and paper industry comprises companies that use wood, specifically pulpwood, as raw material and produce pulp, paper, paperboard, and other cellulose-based products.
Manufacturing process
In the manufacturing process, pulp is introd ...
. The company later started producing
chemicals
A chemical substance is a unique form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Chemical substances may take the form of a single element or chemical compounds. If two or more chemical substances can be combin ...
based on
timber
Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...
as a raw material. After a
takeover
In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company (the ''target'') by another (the ''acquirer'' or ''bidder''). In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are publicly listed, in contrast to the acquisi ...
in 1986, Borregaard was part of the chemical division of the
Orkla Group
Orkla ASA is a Norwegian conglomerate operating in Europe, Asia and the US. At present, Orkla operates in the branded consumer goods, aluminium products and financial investment sectors. Orkla ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and its he ...
until it was spun off and introduced to the Oslo Stock Exchange in October 2012. It had 1050 employees in 2016.
The company's core business is based on a
Biorefinery
A biorefinery is a refinery that converts biomass to energy and other beneficial byproducts (such as chemicals). The International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 42 defined biorefining as "the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of bi ...
that manufactures products based on the different components in wood. Important products are speciality
cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of glycosidic bond, β(1→4) linked glucose, D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important s ...
,
lignin
Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants. Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidit ...
products (
lignosulphonates),
bio ethanol,
yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom (biology), kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are est ...
and
yeast extract
Yeast extracts consist of the cell contents of yeast without the cell walls; they are used as food additives or flavorings, or as nutrients for bacterial culture Growing media, media. They are often used to create savoury flavors and umami tast ...
s and lignin-based
vanillin
Vanillin is an organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a phenolic aldehyde. Its functional groups include aldehyde, hydroxyl, and ether. It is the primary component of the ethanolic extract of the vanilla bean. Synthetic vanillin ...
. The company also produces ethyl vanillin, diphenols and fine
chemical
A chemical substance is a unique form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Chemical substances may take the form of a single element or chemical compounds. If two or more chemical substances can be combin ...
s.
History
The name "Borregaard" was connected to Borgargjerdi, the royal seat during the reign of
Olav the Holy (1016). In 1312 the estate was handed over from the king and became a country estate which changed hands several times until 1889, when British company The Kellner Partington Paper Pulp Co. Ltd. became its owner. This company built a cellulose factory near
Sarpsfossen
Sarp Falls ( or ') is a waterfall at Sarpsborg in Østfold, Norway.
It is the second largest waterfall in Europe by Discharge (hydrology) , discharge, after the Rhine Falls.
This is the last waterfall on the Glomma River, which is the longest rive ...
waterfall.
In 1918 a holding company called Borregaard was established in order to transfer the business into Norwegian hands.
Until the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
Borregaard's main products were cellulose and paper, but then Borregaard started production of various chemical products and activities in other areas.
In 1986 Borregaard merged with
Orkla Industries into Orkla Borregaard. When Orkla Borregaard then merged with Nora Industries in 1992, the new company took the name Orkla, while the chemicals business kept the Borregaard name.
On the 18th of October 2012 Borregaard was separated from Orkla and was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
Subsidiaries
Borregaard ChemCell

Borregaard ChemCell is a producer of advanced speciality
cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of glycosidic bond, β(1→4) linked glucose, D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important s ...
based on
softwood
Scots pine, a typical and well-known softwood
Softwood is wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers. The term is opposed to hardwood, which is the wood from angiosperm trees. The main differences between hardwoods and softwoods is that the sof ...
,
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' ( ), a genus of about 40 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal ecosystem, boreal (taiga) regions of the Northern hemisphere. ''Picea'' ...
. Borregaards has a Cellulose plant in
Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg ( or ), historically Borg, is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Østfold Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.
Sarpsbor ...
, Norway. 2002 brought Borregaard an additional ChemCell plant in
Solothurn
Solothurn ( ; ; ; ; ) is a town, a municipality, and the capital of the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. It is located in the north-west of Switzerland on the banks of the Aare and on the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains.
The town is ...
, Switzerland. This plant was closed 2008.
Customers are manufacturers of cellulose
derivatives, such as cellulose ethers and esters, acetate cellulose and micro-crystalline cellulose. Borregaard ChemCell also produces cellulose for textile fibres, plastic products and a variety of paper qualities.
Borregaard's plant in Norway was erected in 1891, The Swiss plant, former Atisholz started production as early as 1884.
Both plant utilizes a
calcium sulphite based
digesting proses which gives high viscosity cellulose with high purity.
Bio ethanol and basic chemicals
The
sugar
Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose
Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...
compounds in wood is used to manufacture bio
ethanol
Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is an Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol, with its formula also written as , or EtOH, where Et is the ps ...
. Borregaard also produces
caustic soda
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations and hydroxide anions .
Sodium hydroxide is a highly corrosive base and alkali t ...
,
hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid or spirits of salt, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl). It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungency, pungent smell. It is classified as a acid strength, strong acid. It is ...
and
bleaching
Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially or domestically to remove color from (i.e. to whiten) fabric or fiber (in a process called bleaching) or to disinfect after cleaning. It often refers specifically t ...
chemicals for captive use and for sale to external customers.
Borregaard LignoTech

Borregaard LignoTech is a supplier of lignin-based binding and
dispersing agents (
lignosulphonate). Lignin is the binding agent in wood and is extracted as lignosulphonate during the production of cellulose. The company has production units in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
,
US,
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, and the
UK, and joint venture units in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
,
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, and the
US.
LignoTech's lignin products are used as dispersing agents in
concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...
, textile dyes, agrochemicals, batteries and
ceramic
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcela ...
products, or as binding agents in animal feed and briquettes. Lignin products improve the end-use properties and strengthen the structure of concrete. Lignin-based products are also used in connection with oil drilling.
Borregaard Synthesis
Borregaard Synthesis provides intermediates for non-ionic X-ray contrast media, and has dedicated plants for this market. The company also supplies advanced intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for several medicines.
The production facilities is located at the Borregaard production site in
Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg ( or ), historically Borg, is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Østfold Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.
Sarpsbor ...
, Norway.
The company also produces
diphenols at its plant in
Ravenna
Ravenna ( ; , also ; ) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its Fall of Rome, collapse in 476, after which ...
, Italy.
Borregaard Ingredients
Borregaard manufactures several ingredients based on natural raw materials.
Omega-3 oil:
Borregaard supplies omega-3 specialty oils designed for use in functional food such as dairy products, juice, sausages and sweets.
Vanillin
Vanillin is an organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a phenolic aldehyde. Its functional groups include aldehyde, hydroxyl, and ether. It is the primary component of the ethanolic extract of the vanilla bean. Synthetic vanillin ...
:
The company is the only supplier of vanillin produced from wood (lignin). Borregaard also supplies vanillin and
ethyl vanillin products based on petrochemical raw materials.
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom (biology), kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are est ...
products:
Borregaard's plant in Switzerland produces protein-rich torula yeast, based on sugar compounds in wood, for use in food products and selected animal feed products. Borregaard also manufactures various yeast extracts that are used as taste enhancers with good nutritional properties in sauces, soups, baby food, pizza and meat products.
General directors and managing directors
* 1918–1933 :
Hjalmar Wessel
* 1933–1960 :
Arne Meidell
* 1960–1978 :
Rein Henriksen
* 1978–1985 :
Oddmund Sørhuus
* 1986–1999 :
Egil Ullebø
* 1999– :
Per Sørlie
Legionella epidemic
In May 2005 there was a
legionellosis
Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by any species of ''Legionella'' bacteria, quite often ''Legionella pneumophila''. Signs and symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle pains, and headaches. Nau ...
outbreak in
Fredrikstad/Sarpsborg Fredrikstad/Sarpsborg is an urban area in Norway consisting of the twin cities Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad (; previously ''Frederiksstad''; literally "Fredrik's Town") is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway ...
area. It was confirmed that an air scrubber on Borregaard's plant in Sarpsborg, Norway was the source of the worst
legionella
''Legionella'' is a genus of gram-negative bacteria, gram-negative bacteria that can be seen using a silver stain or grown in a special media that contains cysteine, an amino acid. It is known to cause legionellosis (all illnesses caused by ''Legi ...
epidemic
An epidemic (from Greek ἐπί ''epi'' "upon or above" and δῆμος ''demos'' "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of hosts in a given population within a short period of time. For example, in meningococcal infection ...
in Norwegian history. The
epidemic
An epidemic (from Greek ἐπί ''epi'' "upon or above" and δῆμος ''demos'' "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of hosts in a given population within a short period of time. For example, in meningococcal infection ...
spread to at least 56 people, of whom ten died.
In 2008 there was a new
legionellosis
Legionnaires' disease is a form of atypical pneumonia caused by any species of ''Legionella'' bacteria, quite often ''Legionella pneumophila''. Signs and symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle pains, and headaches. Nau ...
outbreak in
Fredrikstad/Sarpsborg Fredrikstad/Sarpsborg is an urban area in Norway consisting of the twin cities Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad (; previously ''Frederiksstad''; literally "Fredrik's Town") is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway ...
area. This time it was concluded that the biological treatment plant was connected with both outbreaks. The biological treatment plant was immediately shut down.
[http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/ostfold/1.6202972 Borregaard stenger anlegg – Østfold – NRK Nyheter (Norwegian)]
A replacement plant, based on different technology, was opened in February 2014.
See also
*
Statskog
References
External links
Corporate websiteBorregaard ChemCellBorregaard LignoTechBorregaard IngredientsBorregaard SynthesisOrkla ASA
{{Authority control
Chemical companies of Norway
Orkla ASA
Companies based in Østfold
Sarpsborg
Companies listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange
Forestry in Norway
Chemical companies established in 1889